General Princess Questions-PLEASE HELP!

[shanenstac]

Hello! I have cruised with Carnival twice, but my husband and I are thinking about trying the Caribbean Princess this August. I have a few questions.
What is the dress code on the ship? How many formal nights are there on a 7 night cruise?
Also, I have heard that you have a different waiter every night on this ship? Is this true?
Is their any night life on this ship?

All help to these questions & any other advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Staci

[flamomo]

Hi shanenstac, I have sailed 3 times on Princess, so can answer some of your questions.
Dress Code: "resort casual", and people wear slacks,capris, shorts, some jeans (but these are discouraged in the dining room at dinnertime), knit shirts with collar and t-shirts are common (T-shirts not worn in dining room either). On formal nights, men occasionally wear a tux, but most wear suits or sport coat/trousers with dress shirt and tie. Women wear cocktail dresses and some wear evening gowns. Those who choose not to "dress" dine at the buffet for dinner in their casual clothes.
Formal Nights: there are 2 formal nights, usually the 2nd day of the cruise, and another near the end.
Wait Staff: It depends on whether you choose traditional or anytime dining. If you have trad., you would probably have the same waiters every night. If you opt for anytime dining, you might be able to have the same waiters each night if, at the beginning of the cruise, you request to be seated at the same waiter's table every night at the same time. If you elect to eat at different times each night, it is unlikely that you will have the same waiters twice. The anytime dining room is quite large, and you might be seated in any part. We find it fun to dine with different PAX each night. We've met a lot of really great people that way.
Night Life: I can't really speak too much to this. We tend to go to the shows in the theater often, and there is live music and dancing in some of the lounges. Of course, there is also the casino.
If you are thinking that Princess is stuffy and formal with nothing fun to do at night, I would have to say that is not true. There are numerous options available on every Princess ship. Just read your Princess Patter each evening and you will know what will be going on the next day and evening.
I expect that folks who have sailed the Caribbean Princess will fill you in more re: the nightlife options.

[shanenstac]

Flamomo,
Thank you so much for your help. It made my choice to choose Princess easier. My husband is 32 and I am 27. We are by no means "wild" and want to party all night, but we don't want to go to bed at 10 pm, either. He likes the casino and we visit some of the "clubs" a little, though not every night.
If I may ask you one more question: after dinner, do people change back into their casual wear or do most stay in their "dressy" clothes?
We both really enjoy dressing up for dinner but afterwards, we like to change so that we may be more comfortable.

Thanks again!
Staci

[flamomo]

Some people go back to their "comfy" clothes after dinner - I'd say it's probably about 60/40 ( the 60 % stay in their dressy clothes).
On formal nights, it seems that the majority of people who "dress" for dinner stay in their dressy clothes. I think if the cruiseline had their way, formal nights would stay formal all evening long, and a lot of people do. Sometimes I think "I went to the trouble of getting gussied up. I'm gonna stay that way". Although I have been known to go back to the cabin later after dinner and the early show and put on more comfortable shoes, as I take a pair of dressy sandles plus a pair of pumps or other dressier shoes that I know are comfortable. Those ship passageways are LONG when your shoes hurt!
I cruise only on Princess (so far), have 3 completed cruises, #4 for 2007 is booked, and we have "future cruise" deposits in place to repeat the 15 day cruise to Hawaii in 2008.
Princess is a nice way to go, and so far I have seen no reason to change cruiselines. Their prices may be a bit more than Carnival, but they certainly are not the highest either. The ship's decors are very nice, but not the rowdy colors of some Carnival ships. My DD sails on Carnival and I have seen photos of the onboard decor. Let's just say, the colors are more muted on Princess. Not dull either.
Hope you do go on Princess and that you are pleased.

[Rev22:17]

Staci,

Thank you so much for your help. It made my choice to choose Princess easier. My husband is 32 and I am 27. We are by no means "wild" and want to party all night, but we don't want to go to bed at 10 pm, either. He likes the casino and we visit some of the "clubs" a little, though not every night.

Princess traditinally threw a much classier party than Carnival, though this may have changed somewhat in the present decade. In any case, you'll find plenty of night life.

>> Most of Princess's ships have two or three showrooms. They do repeat the shows on consecutive nights, though, so you can see all of them.

>> There'a piano lounge with a sing-along, usually located on the Promeade Deck in the atrium.

>> The Wheelhouse bar has two combos that play live music for dancing continuously from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM nearly every evening.

>> On Caribbean itneiraries, there's an "Island Night" deck party with a midnight buffet on one evening during the cruise.

>> On the last formal evening, there's a campagne waterfall.

>> The casino and the disco both operate quite late, so long as people are there.

>> The Horizon Court (buffet area) becomes a bistro, with full table service, from about 10:00 PM until 4:00 AM, so you don't have to call room service if you work up an appetite at the disco.

>> Most Princess shops now have "Movies Under the Stars" on a big screen in the main pool area each night.

I'm probably missing a few options, but that list is a pretty good start.

We both really enjoy dressing up for dinner but afterwards, we like to change so that we may be more comfortable.

Princess's stated poslicy is that the prescribed evening attire applies "throughout the ship" except in designated casual areas. Enforcement varies.

Norm.

[cruisinbuddy]

We found lots to do in the evenings. They have 2 clubs which offer different types of music for dancing. At club fusion it may be 70"2 night from 8 -9pm and them country music from 9-10 and so on which provides a little something for every taste. There is also Skywalkers disco which is great fun, also offering differnt types of music but you will only find "club music" at skywalkers. There are lots of piano bars around the ship with fabulous entertainers. Bert Stratton was on our cruise and if your lucky enough to see his name in the Patter, don't miss it. We listened to him several times, what a great performer!! Movies under the stars is a great way to unwind, we were told you had to book a chair but we never did and there was always lots of lounge chairs available and they provide cozy blankets too! We are not party animals but we also don't hit the sack at 10pm and we found that there was plenty to keep us busy.

[LisaK]

Staci - i think that you and your DH will really enjoy Princess. I think of Princess ships as a really nice resort hotel, there is no glitzy decor, no flashy glam, no "tacky pool games(hairy chest, belly flop etc), there is lots to do day and night. The shows take place in the Princess Theatre, you can always find a band to dance to in the show lounges or the disco.
Our favorite place to relax and listen to some music is the Wheelhouse Bar -they always have a combo playing in this bar, and if the crowd wants it, it can get to be a pretty hopping place!
Afternoon High Tea is something you should try, if you have never attended a High Tea its quite a treat!
Don't miss out on Island-Deck Party night! what a blast!
Don't miss out on the Midnight Champagne Waterfall - on your last formal night -its a fun farewell party!- we found that the vast majority of passengers stayed dressed in their formal clothes for this EVENT,which seemed to make the mood even more festive.
You will have 2 formal nights on your 7 day cruise - the vast majority of men will be wearing dark suits, or suit separates, there will be a smattering of men in tuxedos. The majority of women will be wearing either long gowns or cocktail dresses, its a pretty even split. Dressy pants with sparkly tops, and dressy dinner suits are also very popular.